Niko collapsed to the ground, his chest heaving as he allowed himself a moment to relax. The immediate threat was gone—Team Z's relentless offense had been momentarily cleared, and he could start organizing a counterattack. Turning his attention to the other half of the field, he harbored a shred of hope. Perhaps the defenders of Team Z had over-committed to their attack, leaving gaps for Team Y to exploit. But what he saw instead made his heart sink.
Standing at the edge of the penalty area was Isagi, the ball firmly under his control. His stance was calm yet charged with the potential for chaos, like a predator poised to strike. Niko's eyes narrowed, the tension returning to his limbs as he watched Isagi shift his weight.
Isagi made his move. His body twisted into a shooting stance, eyes locked on the goal. One of Team Y's defenders lunged forward with a desperate slide tackle, his cleats tearing into the turf. But the sound of the ball being struck never came. The defender's foot cut through empty air—Isagi had feinted.
In one fluid motion, Isagi shifted the ball to his other foot, his expression sharp and calculating as he prepared to shoot again. Niko's mind raced, his instincts screaming at him to cover his goal's right side. Without hesitation, he bolted in that direction.
But Isagi wasn't finished. With a serious, almost serene look, he chipped the ball to the left. The shot seemed strange—too short, too wide. For a split second, the defenders paused, confusion evident in their faces.
And then Niko realized.
His heart pounded as he twisted his body mid-run, sprinting toward the left side of the net. But it was too late. A blur of motion streaked behind the defenders—Naruhaya, driven by sheer determination, was already there.
The ball met Naruhaya's outstretched foot, and with a swift, decisive strike, it sailed into the top-left corner of the net.
"Yeah!!"
"Nice pass, Isagi!"
"We're leading 2-0!"
The roar of Team Z's celebration echoed across the field. Their faces shone with exhilaration as they huddled together, fists pumping and voices rising in unison.
For Naruhaya, this goal meant everything. It was his first time scoring in this match, making him the fifth player from Team Z to find the back of the net. Gratitude overwhelmed him as he turned to Isagi, his smile wide and genuine.
"Thanks for the pass, Isagi!" he called out, voice tinged with both awe and appreciation. He knew Isagi could've taken the shot himself and likely scored, but the fact that he chose to pass meant more than words could express.
Isagi stood a few steps away, his grin widening as he took in the scene. The thrill of outsmarting a strategist like Niko, the sheer unpredictability of the game—it was intoxicating. His pulse raced with excitement, his mind already brimming with possibilities for the next play.
'This game... it's so fun'
He thought, the words resonating like a mantra.
His teammates urged him back into position, their energy infectious. The match resumed as Team Y restarted the game, determination etched into their faces. The battle was far from over.
Team Y's movements became frantic. Desperation was evident in their every step as they scrambled to turn the tide. Okawa darted to the left, making his way toward Igarashi, while Niko positioned himself near the edge of the box. His sharp gaze scanned the field, calculating every possible angle. With a sudden curve shot, Niko sent the ball arching toward Okawa—a shot so precise and unpredictable that it forced Gagamaru to leap at the last second.
Gagamaru stretched to his limit, but the ball sailed past him, landing perfectly at Okawa's feet.
Igarashi, overwhelmed by the situation, resorted to grabbing at Okawa's jersey, trying to slow him down. But Okawa was undeterred. With a quick feint, he shrugged Igarashi off and trapped the ball cleanly under his foot.
The weight of the game pressed on him. This was their chance to claw back into the match. His eyes darted toward the net, ready to unleash a shot.
"Get out of my territory!"
A voice, guttural and commanding, shattered his focus. Charging toward him was Raichi, his expression fierce, resembling that of a predatory shark. Without hesitation, Raichi stormed out of the penalty box and swung his leg with unrelenting force, launching the ball away to the left.
"Good one, Raichi!"
"What the hell are you doing, Igarashi?! Your job is defense—do it right!"
Okawa, stunned, stumbled and fell to the ground. He looked up in disbelief as Raichi, now retreating to his position, exuded an aura of dominance. It wasn't every day a Goalkeeper stepped up to clear the danger so decisively.
Rising to his feet, Okawa's resolve hardened. His jaw clenched, and his eyes burned with determination.
'I'll score against you, shark-tooth bastard.'
Meanwhile, Raichi's clearance found Iemon, who quickly trapped the ball but was immediately pressured by Team Y's midfielders. Unable to push forward, Iemon spotted Chigiri nearby in the CDM position and passed to him.
Chigiri glanced up, searching for options. He wanted to send the ball to Isagi, their playmaker, but Team Y had clearly learned their lesson. Isagi was swarmed by two defenders, denying him any room to operate.
The pressure mounted as Team Y players closed in on Chigiri. He considered kicking the ball out of bounds to buy time, but then, out of the corner of his eye, he spotted Naruhaya making a run down the left flank. Without hesitation, Chigiri threaded a low pass between the defenders, sending the ball toward Naruhaya.
For Naruhaya, this was a moment of redemption. He felt a surge of pride—unlike Igarashi and Imamura, who had struggled to contribute so far, he was finally a key part of the play. He sprinted forward, ready to receive the ball.
But his moment was stolen.
Niko, with his superior physicality, closed in and used his chest to trap the ball. Naruhaya couldn't outmuscle him. Frustrated, he could only watch as Niko turned and sent the ball toward the center of the field.
Niko exhaled in relief. He had stopped another dangerous play—or so he thought.
A shadow loomed over his fleeting moment of peace.
"Isagi!"
The voice came from one of his teammates, but it was already too late. Isagi Yoichi had read the play perfectly, slipping past the defenders marking him to intercept Niko's pass.
In a smooth motion, Isagi gained control of the ball and wasted no time. He dribbled briefly before sending a precise pass to the right side of the field.
The two forwards ahead moved quick, their roles clear. They pushed into the defensive line, creating chaos as they dragged multiple defenders with them.
"Score it, monster!"
Isagi shouted.
The pass found its target—Bachira. His eyes lit up with excitement as he sprinted forward. This was why he had come to Blue Lock: moments like these, where the game felt alive, electric. Trapping the ball expertly, Bachira positioned himself and unleashed a powerful strike.
The ball sailed past Team Y's keeper and into the back of the net.
"Yes!"
"3-0! There's no way we're losing this now!"
The players of Team Z erupted into celebration, their earlier nerves melting away. Relief washed over them. With this commanding lead, victory felt inevitable.
And at the center of it all was their star player, Isagi Yoichi. His vision, precision, and ability to exploit every weakness had orchestrated their dominance. The team's highest-ranked player had once again proven why he was their ace.
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